Sarver, PA...May 2, 2003
It was a night of "Champions" in victory lane at Don Martin's Lernerville Speedway, Friday evening; 2001 title holder Brian Swartzlander (Leechburg) became the first triple-crown winner in the Ferrante Oldsmobile Modifieds and four-time Champion Joe Kelley (Mt. Pleasant) claimed his initial 2003 Dingbat Restaurants Pure Stock main. Defending 2002 St. Barnabas Health System Sprint champ Rod George (Kittanning) earned his primary win of the season and 2002 title holder John Flinner (Zelienople) became the first repeat victor in the Friedmans Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Foods Late Models.
"What a difference a year makes," proclaimed Ferrante Oldsmobile Modified feature winner Brian Swartzlander. The stars appear to be aligned for greatness in 2003 for the Swartzlander 83S crew as they claimed three out of four main events; the other completion was a second place. Searching for that career first Gary Risch Jr was in charge for 16 laps, but Swartzlander ascended from twelfth to begin challenging him on lap six. Risch was on the inside and Swartzlander's McCutcheon Enterprise/Straub Beer/Precise Tool & Dye Teo Chassis rode the high line. Swartzlander caught Risch and passed him on the front straight on lap 17 and then darted low taking away Risch's line, holding him at bay the remaining laps. Swartzlander, who has been Risch's mentor said, "Gary really made me work for this win, I would like to have seen him win, but we had to try to win ourselves. He'll get a victory soon." Swartzlander leads Risch in the point standing by 13 and is fourth of the Modified Win chart with 41 victories and tonight tied Ben Miley for tenth place on the All-Time Win Record. Tom Winkle placed third and was followed by Jim Weller Jr, Jim Weller III, Carl Murdick, Lonny Riggs, Eddie Brown, Doug Fleeger and Jim Faas. The Wellers' claimed the both prelims.
"Hot" Rod George rode the cushion to claim a season first in the 20-lap St. Barnabas Sprint feature. From the pole Roger Bennett #444 took charge. George came from fifth to move into the second spot on lap six and began to "hound" Bennett, passing him low on lap 10. Once in front, George's Lias Tire/ American Racer/ Roadway Inn/ Dairy Queen #4 remained poised and sailed around the track. With two laps to go, Ed Lynch Jr riding second, made a futile attempt to catch George, but finished a length behind for the second week in a row. Lynch Jr tops the point list over Jamie Smith by seven. This was George's 24th win and the track and places him 8th on the All-Time Sprint Win List and ties him with Gary Pease for 21st on the All-Time Win Chart. Roger Bennett dropped to third and was followed by Jack Sodeman Jr, Jamie Smith, Chad Hill, Dan Shetler, Scott Bonnell, Arnie Kent and Kevin Schaeffer. Schaeffer, George and Bennett were the heat winners.
From the outside pole, John Flinner took command from the green to the checker to become the first repeat winner in the 20-lap Friedman's Supermarkets/Bi-Lo Late Models. Flinner's John Johnson Towing/Flinner Signs & Decals #48 rode the cushion to ward off all challengers and eventually defeat Doug Eck, Nick Jones, Dave Scott, Ken Schaltenbrand, Chuck Kennedy, Spanky Dougherty, Mark Banal, Jeff Henry and Lynn Geisler. Jones and Scott scored in the preliminary events. Flinner leads Jones by one digit in the point contest.
Super Joe Kelley drove an outstanding race to win over the hard charging Scott Bochek. Although Kelley's 66 Auto Supply/Rent-A-Wreck/A-1 #66 led the distance it was not an easy win, because Bochek's racer looked like it was attached to Kelley's rear bumper pressuring him the entire race. The twosome battled with expertise and precision skills in a "clean" contest. Kelley said, "I saw him several times during the race, but he raced me clean!" Greg Beach was third and was trailed by Butch Lambert, Chris Schneider, Paul Schreckengost, and Bob Lipinski. Jeff Walters came from 19th to place eighth, Rob Shook was ninth and Nick Reges rounded out the top ten. Lipinski, Schneider and Bochek won the heat races and Walters was victorious in the B-Main. Wayne Carbo violently rolled his racer several time in that event, but was not injured. In the Point Challenge, Kelley leads Schneider by 6 points and hopes to zero in on his fifth championship. Kelley moved into fifth place with 17 wins tying Glen Noland and John Britsky on the All-Time Pure Stock Win list.